Movable platform with lift and turnover mechanism



Feb. 11, 1969 c. H. T. WOODWARD 3,426,927

MOVABLE PLATFORM WITH LIFT AND TURNOVER MECHANISM Filed Feb. 12, 1968Sheet of 4 N) 4 J I INVENTOR. CYR/L H. TM/ooowam Feb. 11, 1969 c. H. .T.WOODWARD 3,426,927

I MOVABLE PLATFORM WITH LIFT AND TURNOVER MECHANISM Sheet Filed Feb. 12,1968 INVENTOR. CYI-P/L H 7 W000 WARD Z2 22w AGENT Feb. 11, 1969 c. H. T.WOODWARD 3,426,927 MOVABLE PLATFORM WITH LIFT AND TURNOVER MECHANISMSheet Filed Feb. 12, 1968 INVENTOR. C YR/L H. T WOODWARD Fad/4 6ml? Feb.1969 c. H. T. WOODWARD 3,426,927

MOVABLE. PLATFORM WITH LIFT AND TURNOVER MECHANISM Sheet.

Filed Feb. 12, 1968 INVENTOR.

CYRIL H. I WOODWARD BY Y P252; AGENT United States Patent 0 12 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A skid inverter for turning skids of paperand the like in which are provided selected limits of rotation of theturnover mechanism. The rotation is provided by a pair of hydrauliccylinders whose piston rod ends are connected by a roller chain. Theseconnections are adjustable on the rods to compensate for stretch in thechain and to provide adjustment between the stroke of the cylinders andthe driving sprocket. The inverter is further provided with cooperatingmeans between the movable platforms and the support frame to provide analigning means as the movable platforms are moved to an open position.With the aligning means in engagement the movable platform is retainedin a precise position absent a turnover force. The skid inverteradditionally has easily manipulated adjusting members readily movable toprovide limits for both wide and narrow skid loads. The movableplatforms are additionally provided with a plurality of auger screw typeskid engaging means adapted to hold the skid to the top movable platformas it is moved to the open position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is acontinuation-in-part of my application Ser. No. 551,096 filed May 18,1966, and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The field of art towhich this invention pertains is found in the class of Material orArticle Handling and more particularly in the subclasses wherein thereis a vertically swinging load support, shovel or fork type, horizontalswinging, and also in the subclass for selfloading and/or unloadingelevator, hoist type in particular that subclass pertaining to grab,movable about a horizontal axis and to the subclass of tilting carrierand those that are selective.

Description of the prio art The widespread use of the mobile skid turneras shown and described in my US. Patent No. 3,027,031 issued Mar. 27,1962 has indicated the utility of this type of apparatus. As thecommercial use has increased so also has the demands by the customersfor still greater capacities and ease of operation for handling largerand heavier loads, sizes, as well as manipulative abilities notcontemplated in the apparatus of the original invention.

The extending of the skid turner to accommodate still greater capacitieshas required that certain manipulative operations be provided withsubstantially automatic actuations. For example, in the turning of theloads it is desired that the skid turning mechanism be provided withpositive stops so as to orient the movable members in precisely verticalpositions. It is also found desirable that there be provided anautomatic orienting member whereby when the movable clamp members areopened 3,426,927 Patented Feb. 11, 1969 to their extreme outer positionsand the power to the turning mechanism is turned off that the clampmembers are maintained in a positive alignment in the support frame,while the skids are loaded and unloaded into the skid turner.

In addition it is desirable that the skid turner readily adjust toextremes of load widths. The skid turner to be hereinafter shown anddescribed is provided with readily adjustable side stops so thatparticularly narrow loads may be accommodated on apparatus customarilyused for particularly wide loads and vice versa.

It is further contemplated that the skid turner shown and describedhereinafter have its clamping members have skid attaching meansproviding a one-man operation whereby the wooden skids supporting thepaper and the like when turned to an upper position are retained on theupper movable platform member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the improvements to the skidturner of this invention it is contemplated that the tumover apparatusof the skid turner be provided with stop members positioned to engageselected portions of the support housing to provide a maximum extent ofthe turning of the skid to each of two determined positions. Thesepositive stops eliminate the consequences of over travel of the turnovermechanism. The power train for turning the clamping mechanism includes apair of hydraulic cylinders which are adjustably attached to a rollerchain. In this precise adjusting means the ends of the hydrauliccylinder piston rods are threaded to retain roller chain attaching linkmembers by which the chain may be shifted in respect to the pistons toshift the timing of the sprocket to the pistons which power the turnovermechanism.

The improved skid turner has its side adjusting members provided with atleast two pivotal members carried by the extending members forming apart of the side adjusting frame. The pivoted members are selectivelyturned to one of two positions which are ninety degrees from each otherto provide two limits for the engagement, the side adjusting member andthe side of the skid load. The pivotal members of the side adjustingmeans are thus moved to accommodate loads greater than and less than thewidth of the turnover frame. The pivoted members are retained in one ofthe two selected positions by means of latch or hook disposed to retainthe pivoted member in each of the extreme positions.

It is further contemplated that each of the movable platforms may have aplurality of rotatably retained threaded screws arranged in apreselected precisely positioned pattern so as to engage a likeplurality of threaded nuts or bosses provided in the support frame. Eachof the movable platforms so formed as they are brought towards thesupport frame bring the threaded ends of the screws to and into thethreaded nuts where the threads are engaged and turned by the likethreads of the nut in the platform. The inwardly extending skid engagingportion of the screw has a fast pitched thread similar to an angerthread, which thread is adapted to engage and advance into the wood ofthe skid to urge the wood skid against the movable platform and retainthe skid against the movable platform as the platform is turned to itsupper position.

It is an object of this invention to provide a skid inverter in whichare provided means on the turnover frame for positively aligning andmaintaining said frame in a fixed vertical position during the open skidreceiving condition and absent power, the aligning means beingdisengaged as the load is engaged and lifted from the base support. Itis also an object to provide easy manipulative adjusting means toprovide a side guide readily adapted to be moved to two determinedlimits so that the guide will accommodate both wide and narrow skidloads.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a skid inverter inwhich means are provided in both movable platforms to engage and retaina skid on each platform surface so that as the skid is turned and as theplatforms are moved to the open position the skid which is then on thetop position is retained against that platform.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a skid inverter inwhich the axis of rotation is predeterminedly fixed and in which aturnover frame is rotatable through one hundred-eighty degrees ofrotation by means of opposed hydraulic cylinders connected by a rollerchain, said chain connected to the threaded ends of the piston rods soas to provide minute timing of the rotation.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a skid inverterwherein the turnover frame is provided with stops positioned so as toengage the support frame to provide precise limits of rotation.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a skid inverterwherein the turnover frame is provided with a power system for movingthe platforms toward and away from each other. This power systemincludes a pair of hydraulic cylinders, each of which is supported onone end by means of a support block attached to an end of the frame.

INTENT OF THE DISCLOSURE Although the following disclosure offered forpublic dissemination is detailed to insure adequacy and aid inunderstanding the invention, this is not intended to prejudice thatpurpose of a patent which is to cover each new inventive concept thereinno matter how it may later be disguised by variations in form oradditions of further improvements. The claims at the end hereof areintended as the chief aid toward this purpose, as it is these that meetthe requirement of pointing out the parts, improvements and combinationsin which the inventive concepts are found.

There has been chosen a specific embodiment of the skid turner mechanismas is shown in my US. Patent No. 3,027,031. The specific improvements tothis skid turner have been chosen for the purpose of illustration anddescription. The preferred embodiment encompassing these improvementsare shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 represents a side view of the skid inverter of this invention inone arrangement thereof, and with portions of the wall of the controlcabinet broken away to show the arrangement of the turning apparatus;

FIG. 2 represents a fragmentary plan view on the line 22 of FIG. 1 andshowing the side adjusting frame provided with pivotally attachedextending members for movement to selected positions adapted to engageextremes of different size skid loads;

FIG. 3 represents a front view of the skid inverter of this invention asviewed when looking in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 represents a fragmentary sectional view showing the angledrelationship of the side support and guide gussets of the support framethe view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 represents a fragmentary view showing the relationship of theplatform arms to the support I-beams of the turnover frame the viewtaken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 represents an end view looking toward the turnover drive andcontrol mechanism and showing the turnover frame in a partially turnedposition the view looking in the direction of the arrows 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 represents a fragmentary sectional view on the line 7-7 of FIG. 1and showing a skid engaging and retaining means for holding andreleasing a wooden skid on a movable platform;

FIG. 8 represents a side view of a skid inverter similar to that of FIG.1 but showing an alternate movable platform power train support andouter end supports for the movable platforms, and

FIG. 9 represents a front view of the skid inverter the view taken onand looking in the direction of the arrows 9-9 of FIG. 8.

Referring now to the FIGURES in which like reference numbers refer tolike members throughout the several views of the drawings andspecifications, one embodiment of the skid inverter is shown in FIGS. 1through 7 in which a frame or platform 10 carries the power and controlcabinet 12 wherein is mounted a motor and pump 14 of conventionalhydraulic design and operation. Operation of the hydraulic control is bya multiplicity of control valves 16 as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 6 bywhich means the various operations of the turning of the skids isaccomplished. Frame 10 in the present embodiment includes twolongitudinally disposed beams 18 which extend from the front to the rearof the frame 10. A roller shaft 19 extends transversely across the rearof the frame and carries upon it two rollers 20 which are supported ontheir inboard ends by means of hearings in beams 18 and on theiroutboard ends by means of bearings in supports 21. As shown rollers 20are fixed to shaft 19 so that a hydraulic motor 22 as seen in FIGS. 1and 6 which is operatively connected to the shaft by means of a sprocketand roller chain drive 24 is able to rotate the shaft 19 and by thisdrive 24 to move the skid inverter forwardly and back as directed by theoperator by means of one of the valves 16. The forward end of frame 10is mounted upon a pair of free turning rollers 25 which support andprovide a mobile means for the forward part of the frame 10.

The forward part of control cabinet 12 includes a support plate whichcarries a bearing housing 26. At the left end of this housing as viewedin FIG. 1 there is seen a ball thrust bearing 27 which is carried by theshaft. Outboard of this hearing is a roller chain sprocket 28 which ismounted on the shaft and acts as a stop collar as well as the means forturning the main shaft and apparatus. As seen in FIG. 6 this drive shaft29 is shown as of tubular construction providing a passageway throughthis shaft for hydraulic tubing extending from control valve 16 tohydraulic cylinders to be later discussed in conjunction with theclamping and turning of this apparatus.

In the embodiment here shown the turning means is provided by twohydraulic cylinders 31 and 32 which are best seen in FIG. 6, saidcylinders being arranged with the piston shafts of the cylindersparallel and spaced so as to receive the ends of a roller chain 33 whichengages the sprocket 28. The operation of this turning means will bediscussed hereinafter in conjunction with the general operation of theapparatus. The front plate 34 of the control cabinet is of substantialconstruction so that in addition to carrying the bearing housing 26 itis also disposed so as to carry a thrust roller 36 which is centrallylocated as far as the vertical position is concerned and is positionedat a determined distance down from the axis of shaft 29 (FIG. 1). Theforward end of shaft 29 is attached to and carries a turnover frame 38which in the present instance is formed of two I beams 39 and 40 whichare mounted to a back plate 41. The upper and lower portions of thisframe also includes upper and lower cross bars 42 and 43 which act asstiffeners and supports for the I-beams and also for retaining otherapparatus used in conjunction with the turnover mechanism.

Movably mounted upon these I beams as part of the turnover frame 38 areupper and lower platforms 45 and 46, which are seen in FIGS. 1 and 3particularly and also in FIGS. 8 and 9. These platforms include agenerally horizontal plate member having downturned sides and ends andhaving attached to the rear portion thereof a pair of arms extendingtowards the axis of the apparatus, the arms of platform 45 beingdesignated 47 and the arms of platform 46 being designated as 48.Attached to these cross-connected arms are roller carrying members 50and 51 which have mounted on each of their ends a tapered roller 52,said rollers being tapered so as to fit the inside of the I-beams in themanner as best seen in FIG. 5. It is to be noted that each of the arms50 are mounted on the outside of the I-beams while arms 51 are mountedon the inside of the I-beams. As so arranged the arms 50 and 51 as theyapproach each other are able to pass each other and allow the platforms45 and 46 to approach to a predetermined closed or inward limit ofmovement.

As shown in FIG. 3 the movable platforms 45 and 46 are moved towards andaway from each other by means of hydraulic cylinders 54 and 55, whichcylinders are mounted in opposite directions. The rod end of cylinder54, for example, is attached to the cross arm of arm 48 and the clevisor rear end of the cylinder 54 is mounted upon the cross bar 42 of theturnover frame 38. In like manner the rod end of the cylinder 55 isattached to the arm 47 and the clevis end of said cylinder 55 is mountedupon the cross bar 43. To synchronize movement of these movableplatforms towards and away from each other there is provided a pair ofroller chains 57 and 58 which in the present instance has their lowerends fastened to roller carrying members 51 at clips 59 and 60. Theother ends of these roller chains are attached to the back plate 41 bymeans of clips 61 and 62 fastened to the back plate 41. It is to benoted that these chains 57 and 58 are guided over upper and lower shafts63 and 64 upon which are mounted and attached appropriate sprocketsadapted to carry the roller chain in a manner such that as the cylindersare activated to move the platforms together or apart, the roller chainsacting in concert with the movement of the cylinders insures that theplatforms 45 and 46 move at the same rate and at any particular momentare the same distance from the axis of the apparatus.

Movable at right angles to the side of the frame 38 is a side adjustingmeans or frame 66 which is moved towards and away from the axis of theapparatus by a pair of hydraulic cylinders 68 and 69 as best seen inFIG. 6. Side slide members 70 and 71 (FIG. 3) are supported and movablein appropriately formed guideways in the frame 38 and provide a meansfor carrying the skid engaging portion of the side adjusting frameinwardly and outwardly so as to support the side of the pile on the skidas it is turned. Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular it is tobe noted that upon the extending portions of this side means 66 thereare two vertical members 73 and 74 which are pivotally attached toforwardly extending members 75 and 76. It is to be noted in FIGS. 1 and2 that, in the embodiment here shown, the members 73 and 74 are in theform of I-beams which are hingedly attached to members 75 and 76 so asto pivot. The I-beams as thus mounted are backed up and supported bymembers 75 and 76. The inwardly extended position of the verticalmembers is shown in the left portion of the view of FIG. 2 while in thefolded outer retaining position the I-beam lies adjacent the extendingmembers as seen in the right-hand portion of the FIG. 2. The purpose ofthis adjustment is discussed in the operation below.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 and 6 it is to be noted that anadditional thrust support means may be provided on the turnover frame 38in the form of rollers 78 and 79, each being mounted on like attachedmembers 77 disposed to extend rearwardly from each of the cross bars 42and 43 of the turnover frame 38. These rollers, as thus disposed, areadapted to engage the front support plate 34 whereby as the support ormovable platforms 45 and 46 are brought towards one another so as toengage the load or skid, the load is picked up by the lower of theplatforms and all resulting bending of the shaft or frame caused by theload being carried by the lower platform is transferred to the thrustroller 36 and also to either roller 78 or 79, depending upon whichplatfrom is in the down position. It is to be noted particularly in FIG.4 that, extending outwardly from the front support plate 34, there isprovided an angle gusset 80 and on the opposite side an oppositelyformed and disposed angle gusset 81. These gussets are attached to plate34 so as to form a small angle to provide a ramp for either the roller78 or 79, whichever may be moving toward contact with the lower plate.As thus disposed, the angle gusset is adapted to smoothly pick up theload as the roller 78 or 79 moves into engagement with the gusset andthence on to engagement with the plate 34, the roller carrying itsportion of the load all the while the roller is moving toward and to thevertical centerline of the apparatus.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 and 7, there is shown anexemplified means for attaching and maintaining a wooden or like skidagainst either of the moving platforms 45 or 46. As viewed, the bottomportion of the frame 10 includes a bottom plate 83 which extends from anear beam 18 to a far beam 18. On this plate there is attached inprecise positions a plurality of threaded nuts which are designated 84.Each nut is internally formed with a fast pitch thread which in thisparticular instance is three-quarters inch four pitch threads. In likemanner there is disposed and rotatably attached to each of the movableplatforms 45 and 46 a like number of threaded screws 86. Each of thesescrews has one end formed with a fast pitch thread adapted to engage thethreaded portion of nut 84. Each screw is further provided in itsintermediate portion with shoulder means adapted to retain this threadedscrew in a bearing block 87 which block is attached to the top plate 88.A top plate forms a cover for each of the movable platforms 45 and 46.Extending above and upwardly from this plate 88 is an auger threadportion 86a of the threaded screw 86. This auger thread portion as it isturned is adapted to engage and enter, as in the manner of a wood screw,the wood portion of a skid platform 89.

USE AND OPERATION OF SKID INVERTER FIGS. 1-7

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 7 and described above, asingle operator is normally able to manipulate and turn huge skidscontaining stacks of paper and the like. The motor and pump 14 is drivenby an electrical source not shown, and by means of a readily accessibleswitch as seen in FIG. 1 the motor is started and drives the pump whichmay have a pressure limit of 2000 p.s.i. The operating pump draws fluidfrom the storage tank so as to charge all of the lines which contain andtransmit hydraulic fluid under a determined pressure to the varioushydraulic cylinders and motors. By means of one of the appropriatecontrol valves 16 a supply of fluid under pressure is fed to thehydraulic motor 22 so that rollers 20 are rotated either forwardly orbackwardly so as to move the skid inverter in a forward or in a backdirection. Moving of the platforms 45 and 46 towards each other to clampand lift the skid or to unclamp by moving the platforms to their outerlimits of operation is accomplished by operation of another of thecontrol valves 16 which is opened to cause hydraulic fluid underpressure to be fed to one side or the other of the hydraulic cylinders54 and 55. As one of the platforms 45 or 46 is lowered into the bottomposition the several threaded screws 86 enter the correspondingly spacedthreaded nuts 84 .and as the screws are moved downwardly in the nutsthey are rotated so as to unscrew the auger portion 86a from any skid inwhich they are engaged or may be resting upon the platform. After theskid inverter has been moved under a new skid by means of the rollerdrive 22, the raising of the lower positioned platform causes thedisengaging of the threaded portion of the screw 86 from the nut 84. Asthe screw moves upwardly in the nut it is rotated and this rotation ofthe threaded screw 86 causes the auger portion 86a to enter the woodportion of the skid 89 and to thread itself into the wood so as toengage and firmly retain the skid against the platform surface 88.

Prior to the lifting and clamping of the skid, the side adjusting means66 is manipulated so as to adjust the skid of paper to the axis ofrotation of the apparatus. This manipulating is performed by moving theside adjusting means 66 in and out through operation of the cylinders 68and 69 as fed by pressurized hydraulic fluid supplied by the pump andmotor 14 and controlled by one of the valves 16. For narrow skids thevertical members 73 and 74 are turned at right angles to extendingmembers 75 and 76 while for Wider skids the vertical members are turnedparallel to the extending members. After the load of paper has beencentralized by visual maniplation of the side adjusting means 66 and theadjusted vertical members the two platforms 45 and 46 are moved towardseach other so as to firmly grasp the skid of paper between the upper andthe lower platforms. It is to be noted that during the first operationof this sequence a wood skid platform must be placed upon the top of thepile of paper so that as the apparatus and paper pile is turned thereversed pile of paper will have a skid platform upon which to rest asit is unclamped. However, after a skid platform has been once suppliedto the skids of paper it is not necessary to lay a new wooden skid uponthe top. of the skid of paper since the skid retaining means exemplifiedby the threaded screw 86 will retain that skid platform that was on thebottom and is now on the top after the skid of paper has been turned.The upper threaded screws remain engaged in the skid platform as thereis no threaded nut 84 above the upper movable platform providing meansfor rotating the screws 86 when the upper movable platform is moved toits upper extreme condition as it is when the skid of paper has beenturned and the skid inverter is brought to a condition whereby it may bemoved away from the skid of turned paper. To insure that alignment ofthe movable platforms and the bottom frame is maintained during themovement of the skid inverter toward and under as well as away from theturned skids and so that there is no undue misalignment of the movableplatforms during movement of the screws 86 in nuts 84 there is providedtapered alignment stops in the form of wedges attached to the inner endsof the arms 47 and 48. These stops 92. are adapted by their taperedconstruction to engage the respective outer sides of the beams 18 sothat as the movable platforms are moved into the extreme outer positionthe wedge stops 92 of the lower disposed platform engage the side of thebeams 18. As the stops engage the beam they cam the turnover frame 38 soas to precisely position the movable platforms. This positioning of thebottom of the frame insures that the movable platforms are moveddownwardly into a guided position whereby the screw portions 86 arepositioned to engage the threaded nut 84. The engaged stops 92 insurethat no rotational movement is precipitated by removing the hydraulicpressure from the turnover cylinders 31 and 32.

As noted above the vertical members 73 and 74 providing side stops forthe side adjusting means 66 are turnable to two positions so that if theskid of paper is narrower than the normal limit of the adjusting meansas provided by the width of the general turnover frame 38 the members 73and 74 may be turned so that an additional inner stop limit to the paperis provided by the turning of the vertical members 73 and 74 to theinwardly extending position. For normal use they are turned to aposition adjacent the extending members 75 and 76.

It is to be further noted that the roller chains 57 and 58 are caused tobe moved at the same time and speed by means of the connected shafts andsprockets. As thus arranged no matter how unbalanced the load may be theplatforms move at the same rate and speed and both sides of eachplatform move at the same speed. With this type of control of theplatforms and since the turnover frame is always rotated through thesame are wherein the side adjustment frame moves from one side to thebottom and thence to the other side, therefore with this arrangementcertain operations can be done. For example, if the stack is of heavypaper or cardboard, the turnover frame may be stopped at the horizontalposition, the movable platforms moved apart a small amount and with thestack supported by the side adjusting frame, sheets may be pulled fromthe stack and then the movable platforms are again moved to the clampposition and the inverting of the load is completed.

It is also to be noted that under normal operations means are providedin the hydraulic circuit to limit the pressure of the hydraulic flow tocylinders 54 and 55 whereby the clamping pressure on the stack is apredetermined limit. It is sometimes desirable to provide a greaterpressure so that a completed stack may be placed on a pallet andstrapped thereto. When this operating condition is desired the pressureto the cylinders is increased so that the platforms apply the desiredincrease of pressure on the stack to be strapped.

It is to be further noted that the side adjusting means provides withthe vertical members a method of straightening of the stack before theskid is clamped for inverting. The side adjusting means is brought intoengagement with the side of the stack, after which the side adjustingmeans is continued to be moved against the stack until the desiredalignment is secured.

On certain occasions when it is desired to use the inverter to palletthe stacks it is convenient to remove the wheels and imbed the frame 10in the floor so that the upward face of plate 88 of the movableplatforms are at floor level so that a pallet may be slid on and off thelowered movable platform.

ALTERNATE CONSTRUCTION OF FIGS. 8 AND 9 The skid inverter of FIGS. 8 and9 shows an alternate construction of the movable platforms usedtherewith. In certain plant operations power or lift trucks may be usedto move the skids of paper onto the movable platforms. When thistransport means is used it is desirable to make the top plate 88 moresubstantial. In addition a pair of outer support blocks are provided.These blocks are preferably attached to plate 88 on each platform andare positioned so that they engage the beams 18 when the platforms 45and 46 are moved to the open position. These blocks insure that theouter end of the platform engage the beam to support part of the load asthe platforms are moved to the open position.

In FIGS. 1, 6 and 8 are shown turning stops 102 and 103. These stops areboth attached to I-beam 40 and are disposed so that as seen in FIGS. 1and 8 the block 102 engages the near side of the control cabinet 12 whenthe skid inverter has the side adjusting frame 66 at the rear or away asseen in FIG. 1. As shown, the stop 103 is disposed about the samedistance above the axis of rotation as is stop 102 below the axis. Whenthe turnover frame is rotated one hundred eighty degrees, the stop 103swings over the top of the cabinet 12 and when it reaches the far sideof the cabinet it engages the side to provide a maximum limit of travelof the turnover mechanism. In its one hundred eighty degree removedposition, stop 103 is about the same amount below the axis of rotationas is stop 102 as shown. As stop 103 is moved to the cabinet engagingposition, the stop 102 is swung to an abovethe-cabinet position.

It is to be further noted that in FIG. 8 there is shown a roller 106which is one of a pair of rollers. These rollers in the manner of thrustroller 36 are positioned below the axis of shaft 29. These rollers 106are spaced equal distances from a theoretical vertical line extendingfrom the axis of shaft 29. The rollers 106 have their axis disposed tointersect the axis of shaft 29. The two or more rollers are disposed toaccept the thrust of the load and to distribute this load to the plate34 to reduce the concentration of the load on this plate.

Referring particularly to FIG. 2, it is to be noted that a latchingmeans 110 is provided on the vertical member 73 and forwardly extendingmember 75. A like latch is provided on vertical member 74 and extendingmember. In use each latch is actuated to retain the vertical member inthe adjacent to member 75 position. A latch made by Corbin Cabinet LockDivision, New Britain, Conn., and identified as a drawer pull catch hasbeen satisfactorily used.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 8 and 9, there is shown a support block112 which is attached to cross bar 43 and back plate 41. This block isof a thickness and is drilled to provide a tongue member to engage andretain the clevis end of cylinder 55. A like block 114 is attached toupper cross bar 42 and back plate 41 to support cylinder 54. As seen inFIG. 8, the block is bored so that the shaft 64 may pass freelytherethrough.

Referring finally to FIGS. 1 and 6, it is to be noted that turnovercylinders 31 and 32 have the outer ends of their respective piston rods116 and 118 provided with threads. A threaded cap member 120 has a nutportion having threads sized so as to tightly mate and engage thethreaded end. Extending end portions are sized and drilled to accept endattaching pins 122 by which chain 33 is connected to the cylinders.

ASSEMBLY, ADJUSTMENT AND USE. OF ALTERNATE CONSTRUCTIONS The attachingof support blocks 100 on the movable platforms is a matter of choice asit is contemplated that when desired the blocks may be attached to thebeams 18. The support blocks insure that the deflect-ion or droop of theoutboard end of the platforms is compensated for as the plate member 88is brought in way of beam 18.

The cylinders 31 and 32 are of sufiicient stroke so as to rotate theturnover mechanism at least one hundred eighty degrees. The stops 102and 103 provide the turning limits for the turnover mechanism when theloads are in clamped and turning condition. The alignment stops 92maintain the positioning of the platforms 45 and 46 when the turnovermechanism is in the open condition.

The sprocket 28 is keyed to shaft 29 to positively rotate this shaft.The positioning of the teeth of the sprocket in relation to the shaft iscalculated prior to assembly. Because of wear and stretch of the chainand the normal manufacturing tolerances the initial and operationalrelationship of the cylinder stroke to the sprocket is only grosslydetermined. Precise and fine adjustment of the chain 33 is provided byturning the cap member 120 inwardly and outwardly on the threaded end ofthe piston rod. This adjustment insures that the cylinders willpositively move the turnover mechanism to bring the stop 102 or 103 intopositioning engagement with cabinet 12.

The latching means 110 provided on vertical members 73 and 74 arecontemplated to engage the members to retain them in the adjacentposition against the member 75. The latch may be a mechanicaldisconnecting snap or may be a permanent magnet or other like devices.

The mounted and attached support blocks [112 as provided in FIGS. 8 and9 are disposed so as to reinforce the crossbar back plate constructionof the turnover frame. This reinforcing of the framework permits theclamping and lifting load of several thousand pounds to be effectedwithout the distortion of the frame ends which tend to bind the shafts63 and 64.

Terms such as in, out, up, down, right, left, near, far and the like areapplied to the skid inverter as shown and described in conjunction withthe drawings. These terms are used merely for the purpose of descriptionand do not necessarily apply to a particular position in which the skidinverter may be constructed or used.

The conception of the skid inverter and its several novel features isnot limited to the example above-described but departures therefrom maybe made within the scope of the accompanying claims and protection issought to the broadest extent the prior art allows.

What is claimed is:

1. A skid inverter for turning skid loads of paper and the like, theinverter including a turnover frame carried by a shaft rotatably mountedin and at a fixed distance above the floor of a support frame, theturnover frame having side members formed to carry and retain a pair ofmovable platforms which are movable toward and away from each other soas to grasp and release a skid load of paper, the turnover frame beingrotatable to invert a grasped load, the turnover frame having a sideadjusting member movable so as to position the load between the movableplatforms, the improvement in the skid inverter comprising: (a) a thrustsupporting means positioned below the turnover frame shaft and disposedto accept the thrust of the load as the frame is rotated so as to permitthe frame to be turned with a heavy load and without undue bending ofthe shaft; (b) a sprocket carried on the turnover frame shaft; (c) apair of hydraulic cylinders mounted on the support frame, the cylin dersactuated by pressurized hydraulic fluid whose flow is controlled by theoperator of the equipment; (d) a roller chain attached to each of thepiston rods of the cylinders, the chain extending from each rod to andover the sprocket on the turnover shaft; (e) a threaded end on eachpiston rod, and (f) a threaded cap member threadedly retained on thepiston rod and having an extending end portion disposed to retain theend of the chain, the threaded cap member as it is axially moved on thepiston rod providing infinitely adjustable means for taking up wear inthe chain and to adjust the relationship of the cylinder action to thedesired one-half revolution of the shaft.

2. A skid inverter as in claim 1 in which the turnover frame has anoutboard roller mounted on each end of the frame, and in which thesupport frame includes an angled gusset attached to and extending fromeach side of a front support plate forming a part of the support framewhereupon as the turnover frame is rotated one of the outboard rollersis brought in the way of the face of an angled gusset which is disposedso that as the roller moves inwardly over the face of the gusset andtoward the support plate the roller is cammed toward the plane of thesupport plate and upon reaching the face of the support plate the rollermoves onto and over this face, the roller, while in engagement with the[gusset and support plate, transmitting load forces form the turnoverframe to the supported gusset and front plate.

3. A skid inverter as in claim 1 in which is included a side adjustingmeans having a plurality of pivoted members carried by a plurality ofextending members forming a part of the frame of the side adjustingmeans, said pivoted members movable to one of two positions ninetydegrees from each other and in these positions provid ing two limits forengagement of the side adjusting means and the side of the skid, wherebythe pivoted members of the side adjusting means are moved to the twolimits so as to accommodate loads greater than and less than the widthof the turnover frame.

4. A skid inverter as in claim 3 in which the pivoted members aredisposed in a vertical manner and in which there are providedcooperative means between the pivoted member and an extending member forreleasably retaining the pivoted member in one of the two limitpositions.

5. A skid inverter as in claim 1 in which each of the movable platformsinclude a plurality of rotatably retained threaded screws arranged in apreselected precisely positioned pattern, and the support frame has aplurality of threaded nuts mounted therein and precisely positioned in apattern compatible with the pattern of the threaded screws and so thateach screw may be threaded into and rotated by advancing engagement in alike threaded nut when the platform is brought toward and to the supportframe, each screw provided with a fast-pitch thread on one end and anauger thread formed on the other end,

1 1 a the screw as its fast-pitch threaded end enters the nut is rotatedthereby and as it proceeds into the nut and is rotated theauger-threaded end is turned in a disengaging direction and as themovable platform is raised from the support frame the screw is movedfrom the nut and is turned thereby so that the auger thread is rotatedin an engaging direction and when pressed against a wood skid as it isrotated in the engaging direction enters the wood of the skid to holdthe skid adjacent the platform.

6. A skid inverter as in claim 1 in which the turnover frame is providedwith a pair of turning stops disposed on the same side of the frame andspaced selected distances above and below the axis of rotation, thestops positioned from the axis a preselected amount so that the turnoverframe with one stop in engagement with the support frame is at one limitof rotation and with the turnover frame turned to bring the other stopin engagement with the support frame the turnover frame is permitted toturn only through the desired half-circle of movement and to preciselimits of movement.

7. A skid inverter as in claim 6 in which there is disposed on eachmovable platform an alignment means positioned and sized tocooperatively engage complementary means on the support frame so that asa movable platform is lowered to the support frame the alignment andcomplementary means are brought into engagement to retain the turnoverframe and the movable platforms carried by the frame in positivealignment in the absence of auxiliary turning forces.

8. A skid inverter as in claim 7 in which the alignment means on eachmovable platform includes a tapered pair of stops and the complementarymeans on the support frame is a pair of beam members, the stops disposedto enter and engage facing sides of the beam members as the movableplatform is lowered to the support frame.

9. A skid inverter for turning skid loads of paper and the like, theinverter including a turnover frame carried by a shaft rotatably mountedin and at a fixed distance above the floor of a support frame, theturnover frame having side members formed to carry and retain a pair ofmovable platforms which are movable toward and away from each other soas to grasp and release a skid load of paper, the turnover frame beingrotatable to invert a grasped load, the turnover frame having a sideadjusting member movable so as to position the load between the movableplatforms, the improvement in the skid inverter comprising: (a) at leastone forwardly extending member portion of the support frame, said memberdisposed beneath the turnover frame during the rotation thereof; (b) analignment means provided on each movable platform; (c) complementaryalignment means positioned and sized to cooperatively engage thealignment means of the movable platform as the platform is lowered tothe support frame and as the alignment means are in engaged conditionthe turnover frame and movable platforms are maintained in positivealignment in the absence of auxiliary turning forces; ((1) a pair ofhydraulic cylinders mounted on the support frame and adapted to rotatethe turnover frame through at least one-half a revolution, and (e) apair of turning stops disposed on the same side of the frame and spacedselected distances above and below the axis of rotation, the stopspositioned so that the turnover frame rotated to bring one stop inengagement with the support frame the turnover frame is at one limit ofrotation coinciding with axial positioning of the turnover frame whenthe alignment means engaged, and with the frame turned to bring theother turning stop in engagement the turnover frame is at its otherprecise limit of movement.

10. A skid inverter as in claim 9 in which there are disposed betweenthe outer portions of the movable platforms and the support platform, atleast one support block adapted to support the outer end of the movableplatform as it is brought to an open position.

11. A skid inverter as in claim 9 in which the alignment means on themovable platform includes a tapered pair of stops and the complementarymeans on the support frame is a pair of beam members, the stops disposedto enter and engage facing sides of the beam members as the movableplatform is lowered to the support frame.

12. A skid inverter as in claim 9 in which the turnover frame includesend crossbars and a back plate and in which a support block is attachedto each crossbar and back plate to reinforce the frame, and in which aninwardly extending portion of the block is sized to retain the end of ahydraulic cylinder which is actuated to provide the movable power meansfor the movable platforms.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,690,272 9/1954 Quayle 214-7013,027,031 3/1962 Woodward 2l4652 GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE F. ABRAHAM, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

